Sad news: Playmaker for the Browns Has Surgery for an Undisclosed Injury
Injuries ravaged the Cleveland Browns roster this season — mostly in ways that were obvious, but also in a few that weren’t.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported on Tuesday, January 30, that running back Kareem Hunt had successful surgery to address an injury that plagued him for much of the year.
“Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt recently underwent sports hernia surgery to repair a ruptured adductor, sources told ESPN on Tuesday,” Fowler wrote.
The franchise didn’t hide Hunt’s adductor problem, though the seriousness of it was not made evident via the team’s weekly injury report.
“Hunt was listed on the Browns’ injury report with a groin issue for much of the season,” Fowler reported. “He played through the injury and finished with 10 rushing touchdowns, including one in Cleveland’s wild-card loss to Houston. Typically a ruptured adductor can sideline players for at least six to eight weeks and require immediate surgery. Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson fought through a similar injury last season en route to the Super Bowl.”
Kareem Hunt Unlikely to Return to Browns Next Season
Hunt rejoined the Browns following a season-ending knee injury suffered by starter Nick Chubb in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had been with the team as Chubb’s backup for each of the previous four years, though Cleveland chose to let Hunt walk in free agency ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Hunt finished the regular season with 15 appearances for the Browns, including two starts. He tallied 411 rushing yards and 9 TDs on the ground along with 15 receptions for 84 receiving yards, per Pro Football Reference.
Despite that production, Hunt put up a career-worst average of 3 yards per carry while serving largely as the backup to Jerome Ford. The second-year running back played well enough that the Browns might even consider moving on from Chubb this offseason if he refuses a pay cut. Cleveland can save $11.8 million by cutting or trading the four-time Pro Bowler, and Ford appears capable of stepping into a full-time starting role.
Hunt is open to returning to Cleveland in 2024, though he plans to test the waters in free agency for a second consecutive year. Even if the Browns end up as Hunt’s first choice, it is unlikely the franchise will bring him back considering Ford’s play and Chubb’s contract situation.
Kevin Stefanski Praises Kareem Hunt for Providing Browns Necessary Boost After Nick Chubb’s Injury
Though Hunt’s time in Cleveland may finally be over after five years, the organization at large has publicly praised the running back for his contributions over that time.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke about Hunt during his end-of-year press conference on January 14.
“I’m so appreciative of him and the way he played and the style with which he played,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, pre-injury to Nick, we didn’t have a spot. But to Kareem’s credit, he stayed in great shape. We brought him in, worked him out. He looked great, picked back up the system right away and played really good football for us. … He provided huge value for us, and he’s a battler.”
READ MORE:
Titans Interview Brandon Lynch For DC; Team Retaining Shane Bowen During Search
After the Browns put together a quality defensive season, one of their assistants is on the coordinator radar. Brandon Lynch is the first of Jim Schwartz‘s assistants to land such a meeting.
The four-year Browns assistant met with the Titans on Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. Brown spent the 2023 season as Cleveland’s cornerbacks coach. The 41-year-old assistant spent most of the 2010s in the college ranks, but new Tennessee HC Brian Callahan certainly has observed Lynch’s work in recent years.
Callahan’s Bengals wideouts tussled with the Browns’ corners twice a year. The Browns initially hired Lynch to be their assistant DBs coach under Joe Woods in 2020; despite the DC changeover last year, the team retained Lynch. Denzel Ward earned his second Pro Bowl nod, and the Browns ranked first in pass defense. The Browns hired Lynch after he spent time coaching DBs at Northern Iowa and East Carolina during the 2010s.
Lynch and Ravens assistant Dennard Wilson are the only candidates for the Titans’ DC job so far. While it would certainly appear incumbent Shane Bowen is on his way out, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky notes the team is retaining its current DC while it assesses outside options. Bowen, 37, worked as Tennessee’s DC for the past three seasons. He has interviewed with the Giants and Jaguars this far. The New York job remains open, but the Jacksonville position went to Ryan Nielsen.
It would surprise if the Titans retained Bowen, who was with the team throughout Mike Vrabel‘s tenure. Bowen began his Titans run as their outside linebackers coach under Dean Pees from 2018-20. The Titans ranked in the top half throughout Bowen’s tenure, checking in 16th in scoring defense this season. As Bowen waits, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds pass-game analyst Pat O’Hara will not be retained. O’Hara joined Bowen in being on all six Vrabel-led staffs. O’Hara, 55, also coached with Vrabel in Houston.
